IWSC to hold live judging at LWF

The International Wine & Spirit Competition will host a live judging session at London Wine Fair to find “Best In Show” examples of the event’s two focus grape varieties for 2015.

Linking in with the particular spotlight on Syrah and Grüner Veltliner at this year’s fair, the IWSC will bring industry experts onto its stand, T40, on the morning of Monday 18 May to judge examples of these two grape varieties, with visitors invited to watch the competition’s rigorous “double-blind” process.

A total of six “Best in Show” trophies will be awarded: Syrah Northern Hemisphere, Value Syrah Northern Hemisphere, Syrah Southern Hemisphere, Value Syrah Southern Hemisphere, Grüner Veltliner and Value Grüner Veltliner.

Commenting on this collaboration with LWF’s new Wine Grapes initiative, show director Ross Carter said: “We are delighted to be partnering with the IWSC on this new initiative for the fair.  Wine Grapes is all about putting a spotlight on key varieties – Syrah and Grüner Veltliner for the inaugural year – and the London Wine Fair’s Varietal of the Year Award provides the competitive element and of course prestige.”

IWSC general manager Ewan Lacey remarked: “We are thrilled that the London Wine Fair has selected the world’s most rigorous judging process to judge these two diverse grape varieties live at the show. We are looking forward to discovering the judges’ top picks and promoting the winners over the course of the three days at Olympia.”

In addition to this new partnership, the IWSC will also use the fair to unveil its Northern Hemisphere winners for 2015, with medal winning wines available to taste on its stand throughout the show, alongside a series of masterclasses.